St James' Parish Church, Wetherby

Wetherby was a chapelry in the ancient parish of Spofforth until its parish church was built in 1842. Before then the chapel of ease was served by clergy from the mother church in Spofforth. A chapel was mentioned in 1301 and again in 1546. A dilapidated thatched chapel in the Market Square was demolished in 1760. It was replaced by another in 1763 and that too was demolished in 1845. Curate, William Raby of Spofforth came to Wetherby in 1833 and embarked on two building schemes, St James' Church and Wetherby Town Hall. On 3 April 1838, a meeting of civic and ecclesiastical figures agreed to build a church with a graveyard. The backers included two brewers, two surgeons, two solicitors, two…

]] The church is aligned east-to-west and has a west tower. The tower is tall and in two stages with blue clocks in west, north and south faced in deeply-chamfered recesses with hood moulds. There are three light louvred belfry openings with hood moulds. The nave and tower are constructed of sandstone and were completed in 1842 in the Gothic revival style. The chancel was added in 1877, and a porch was built in the 1990s. The north side has access to the crypt. The south side has the old and new entrances and a rose window. The chancel has a lean-to south vestry with exterior shouldered-headed door and a two light window with hood moulds. The east window is of five lights and of ornate…